HELP!! Is my transmission done!

[leftyguns21]

this past weekend on Saturday i took my car in to Toyota dealership. they replaced:

Radiator
water pump
CV Axle

all this week it has been driving funny, like it was 'slipping'. then today as i was driving home it really started driving funny. it was a weird idle, not rough like bad plugs but it was vibrating. it was really struggling to go forward like it was slipping/grinding. then all of the lights on my dash turned on. the vsc. check engine all of them. i was real close to home so i downshifted to 2nd gear and putted home. but now im afraid to drive.
did the dealership mess up my transmission? by changing out the radiator did they leak too much tranny fluid causing an issue. my car showed 0 symptoms before they touched it this past weekend

I am due for an oil change but that wouldn't cause this issue at all.

 

[Falcon3]

What is your maintenance/driving history like on the transmission? Mileage?

Hot weather towing?
Severe off roading?
Fluid changes?

 

[leftyguns21]

155k on the car
had tranny fluid drained/filled last summer and no issues since
no towing
no hard driving
no bad weather

it was driving just fine before they touched it this past weekend

 

[Falcon3]

155k on the car
had tranny fluid drained/filled last summer and no issues since
no towing
no hard driving
no bad weather

it was driving just fine before they touched it this past weekend

I’d call the dealership and tell them what’s up. Even half a quart low on fluid can cause some weird stuff. If you’re comfortable doing it, you could pull the fill plug on the trans and see if the fluid is real low. Either way the dealership should be notified and keep real good records of your phone calls and who you talk to so if it’s their fault and you do need a new transmission, you have the proof to back it up. DONT drive it anywhere until he problem is fixed.

I would talk them into sending a tow truck to pick it up (on their dime).

 

[leftyguns21]

will pulling the fill plug be ok to just open and peak in? i have never touched it before, or even know where its located.
do the symptoms im having sound like bad transmission?

i called and left a vm, called the same service adviser i was working with. the dealership is about 15 miles away it will def need to be towed there.

 

[fdbyrne]

It sounds like you have a check engine light on which is telling you that your truck already knows what's wrong with it. You just need to pull the codes.

 

[leftyguns21]

It sounds like you have a check engine light on which is telling you that your truck already knows what's wrong with it. You just need to pull the codes.

i dont have the proper tool for pulling codes sadly. or a way to get to an auto zone now to borrow one.

Toyota is sending a tow truck tomorrow to pick it up. its up to them to figure out whats wrong. it has to be something they did or the strangest coincidence.

 

[Inv4drZm]

They did the water pump, does that mean the pulled the timing belt? Might have installed it wrong.

I'm sure they will check that, you'll know more tomorrow.

 

[leftyguns21]

They did the water pump, does that mean the pulled the timing belt? Might have installed it wrong.

I'm sure they will check that, you'll know more tomorrow.

i have the V6 with the timing chain. they did also replace the serpentine belt with the water pump. but no timing belt.

 

[radlynx]

will pulling the fill plug be ok to just open and peak in? i have never touched it before, or even know where its located.
do the symptoms im having sound like bad transmission?

i called and left a vm, called the same service adviser i was working with. the dealership is about 15 miles away it will def need to be towed there.

have them check first and wait what they say. is it a v6 or v8?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[radlynx]

i have the V6 with the timing chain. they did also replace the serpentine belt with the water pump. but no timing belt.

they must have broken some wiring or just a coincidence.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[leftyguns21]

i gave it a good look over. there is no fluid or spots any where. my garage floor is clean. the belt they changed looks good. thermostat everything looks and connected. i haven't touched anything on it since they worked on it (i was going to change the oil this weekend but that will have to wait)

i was going to ask them to do a drain and fill on the tranny fluid but since it was just done 10k again i didn't see a point.

does driving on a tranny with low fluid wreck it beyond repair or can it just be topped off and be good?

 

[jdc62]

Since the transmission cooler is part of the radiator they likely lost some transmission fluid during the radiator replacement. If they didn’t do a fluid check and add the level may be low. I don’t believe the level has to be off much for this particular transmission’s performance to be affected.

There are how-to’s on this site for fluid replacement and level checks (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/195074-atf-exchange-using-cooling-line.html ) . The keys to checking the level is the engine must be running and the transmission fluid temp must be between 95 and 115 (I think that’s the range). I’ve done it myself and it’s very easy to level the fluid.

I agree with a previous poster is the dealer should make good on this. They should have had to add at least a half a quart of transmission fluid and if they didn’t charge you for at least some fluid they probably didn’t do it. They should tow it back to their shop and make sure the level is correct.

 

[leftyguns21]

Since the transmission cooler is part of the radiator they likely lost some transmission fluid during the radiator replacement. If they didn’t do a fluid check and add the level may be low. I don’t believe the level has to be off much for this particular transmission’s performance to be affected.

There are how-to’s on this site for fluid replacement and level checks (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/195074-atf-exchange-using-cooling-line.html ) . The keys to checking the level is the engine must be running and the transmission fluid temp must be between 95 and 115 (I think that’s the range). I’ve done it myself and it’s very easy to level the fluid.

I agree with a previous poster is the dealer should make good on this. They should have had to add at least a half a quart of transmission fluid and if they didn’t charge you for at least some fluid they probably didn’t do it. They should tow it back to their shop and make sure the level is correct.

i asked them if they filled it or leaked any and they said no. if there is no leaks now then it leaked out before at the shop. they are sending a tow truck today. hopefully no damage was done driving on it all week.

its a major PITA, I had a bunch of errands needed to run today before my trip next week.

 

[leftyguns21]

ugh. hate seeing it towed away. glad they were able to pick it up hours earlier than originally quoted. dealership can at least get started on it today and hopefully have it fixed

all of the lights on the dash turned off from sitting all night. once it gets driven a bit and 'warmed' up thats when i started feeling issues.

 

[Legender]

Hope it's nothing serious and can easily be made right by the dealership at no cost to you.

 

[Whammy]

Hope it's nothing serious and can easily be made right by the dealership at no cost to you.

Agreed!!
[MENTION=16474]leftyguns21[/MENTION] Which dealer did you take it to?

 

[ray k]

Nice looking truck! Keep us updated

 

[Keros]

Anxiously awaiting word on the status of your transmission.

Updates!

:dammit:

 

[leftyguns21]

no word yet from them. i am really hoping it gets taken care of and goes smooth.
[MENTION=167764]Whammy[/MENTION] it was the autonation Toyota on Arapahoe. i have used them numerous times. this is the only time there has been an issue. They have taken care of me on all of my other visits.